Page 154 of Wasted

She chuckled. “Yes, I’m sure that was Thomas’s intention in entrusting me with his fortune.”

“What do you think he wanted you to do with it?” Hank’s expression turned more serious, but his hand drifted toward another slice.

“I haven’t figured that out yet. Nor do I know if I’m going to live there or what I’m going to do with his money, to answer your next question. I’ll give much of it to Christian charities and mission work, but I haven’t determined the best way to go about that yet. I want to make sure I’m a good stewardess of the gift Thomas left me.”

Hank nodded. “You totally will be.” Another slice entered his mouth.

“And you are stalling. You’d think you never eat.”

“I’m a poor starving college student.” He mumbled the unconvincing defense around the stolen cheese in his mouth.

“Who has the semester off and lives in a mansion with our father.” She moved toward him on the near side of the island, shooing him away with her hands. “Go. Take the tray into the living room while there’s still some cheese left for the others.”

“So possessive about your cheese.” He laughed as he trotted out of the kitchen, leaving her laughing, too, as she turned to wash her hands in the sink.

“Dad’s here.”

Victoria glanced over her shoulder to see Spring wheel into the kitchen, her eyebrows lifted with either surprise or trepidation. Victoria dried her hands on a towel and faced her sister while she processed the news. “I didn’t think he would come.”

“Neither did I.” Spring halted her chair next to the island in the spacious layout that allowed for her wheelchair.

“Did Robert tell him Sydney and Mariah would be here?”

Spring shrugged.

“And Cillian?”

“Nope.” Robert breezed into his kitchen, wearing a dress shirt and slacks that he’d donned in case their father decided to attend the celebration. He grinned at Victoria as he set the salad bowl and two used glasses on the counter beside her. “You said you wanted him to come.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, but her lips tugged at one corner. “Not under false pretenses, Robert.”

“He knows I’m hosting a party to celebrate your recovery. Nothing false about that.” He grabbed a hunk of spinach from the bowl and stuffed it into his mouth.

“I wouldn’t have thought that would be enough to make him leave work or the house to go anywhere on a Friday night.” Spring’s matter-of-fact statement drew Victoria’s gaze. “No offense, of course.”

“None taken. But, yes,” Victoria transferred her gaze to Robert, “I did hope he would come. I need to speak with him.”

“Want backup?” Spring quirked an eyebrow.

Victoria smiled at the sweet gesture. “Thanks, but Cillian has already agreed to provide that.”

“Ahh, I see.” Spring shot a conspiratorial look at Robert as they both grinned.

Heat rushed to Victoria’s cheeks, though it was hardly a secret at this point that she and Cillian were…involved. In the weeks that followed her surgery, he’d barely left her side at the hospital and then at her home. Kathleen had stayed overnight those first evenings of her at-home recovery, but Cillian had helped care for her needs so often during the daytime that even Max had come to love him, too.

The implication of her thoughts sped her heart rate. Yes, she loved him. She had for a long time. But she hadn’t told him yet. She’d expected him to ask her, to talk about their relationship and their future. But he hadn’t broached the subject at all.

She might think his feelings for her had changed, that he no longer loved her. But his attentiveness and the way he wordlessly expressed his love for her through his actions every day made it clear that he still loved her, perhaps more than ever.

“Cillian’s in the living room.” Robert’s remark pulled Victoria from her thoughts. “I assume that’s who you’re thinking about, given the dreamy look on your face.” He gave her another classic Robert grin.

“Victoria never looks dreamy, Robby. She’s far too mature and practical for that.” Spring giggled.

“Ah, you’re right.” He tapped his bearded chin with a fingertip as he pretended to study Victoria. “Contemplative then?”

“You two.” Victoria pursed her lips, more to hold back a laugh at their antics than to curb their teasing. “I believe it’s time for me to leave the children and find the adults.” She crossed the kitchen and went to the doorway.

“Never run from your feelings, Vicki.” Robert’s attempt to sound like a serious psychiatrist collapsed into laughter with Spring.